Sonia, a trans rights activist, was shot on Jan. 17 in Peshawar, Pakistan. (Photo courtesy of Front Line Defenders)

Two members of Pakistani human rights organisation TransAction were brutally attacked in Peshawar. On 22 January 2018, trans rights activist Shama was gang raped by nine men and on 17 January 2018, trans rights activist Sonia was shot and injured in Peshawar. They were both brutally attacked for their human rights work.

Sonia and Shama are members of TransAction Pakistan, an organisation that represents thousands of transgender and intersex community members from twenty-five districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Federally Administrated Tribal Areas (FATA). The organisation strives to support transgender and intersex individuals through providing safe spaces for them. Sonia is an active transgender rights activist who regularly participates in seminars, demonstrations and walks for the rights of transgender persons. Shama is also involved in advocacy for transgender rights.

On 22 January 2018, Shama, 18, was kidnapped then gang raped in the Gulbahar neighborhood of Peshawar by nine men in retaliation against her advocacy for the human rights of the transgender community. The assailants threatened to shoot her if she disclosed the incident to anyone or if she participated in any more demonstrations. Shama filed a complaint with the police but so far a First Incident Report (FIR) has not been lodged, no arrests have been made and no medical examination has been conducted for Shama.

On 17 January 2018, Sonia was shot in the Pahandu area of Peshawar by her partner, who is also a member of the gang that attackedArzu Khan and Taimur Kamal, and kidnapped Sunny. She was under pressure from her partner to stop her transgender rights activism but she refused. Her partner strongly disapproved of her activities and on the day of the incident they had an argument over her human rights work. Having failed to convince Sonia to cease her activities, the defender’s partner shot her in anger. Sonia was taken to Khyber Teaching Hospital with gunshot wounds to the face and a bullet lodged in her throat. Sonia is still in hospital. A First Instance Report (FIR) has been registered against the man who shot Sonia.

Cases of violent crimes against transgender people have been on the rise in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. On 26 November 2017, a transgender person was shot dead in the city of Peshawar, the fifty-fourth transgender person killed since 2015, according to human rights defender Taimur Kamal. Previously, on 25 May 2016, transgender human rights defender Alesha died from six gunshot wounds received three days earlier in front of Asia Plaza in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The police is usually reluctant to take threats seriously and it is very difficult to get cases registered with the police. Moreover, members of the TransAction Alliance regularly face persecution and harassment in connection with their human rights work.

Front Line Defenders strongly condemns the brutal attacks on Sonia and Shama, which it believes were motivated by their legitimate and peaceful work for the promotion and protection of transgender rights in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Front Line Defenders further expresses serious concern for the physical and psychological integrity of members of the TransAction Alliance and all transgender human rights defenders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Front Line Defenders urges the authorities in Pakistan to:

Carry out an immediate, thorough and impartial investigation into the attacks on human rights defenders Shama and Sonia, with a view to publishing the results and bringing those responsible to justice in accordance with international standards;

Take all necessary measures to guarantee the physical and psychological integrity and security of all members of the TransAction Alliance and other transgender human rights defenders in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa;

Ensure that police respond promptly and competently to complaints made by transgender human rights defenders, including formally registering cases as requested;

Guarantee in all circumstances that all human rights defenders in Pakistan are able to carry out their legitimate human rights activities without fear of reprisals and free of all restrictions.

5 Responses

Why can’t we all just get along, live in peace and not be concern with what others do in their privacy of home or bedroom. We all are different, and that should be celebrated, as diversity is what makes a country and the world great. Shame on these murderers

[…] The legislative active comes in the wake of a series of violent attacks against trans activists in the Peshawar area of Pakistan. (See “Pakistani trans activists under attack: kidnapped, raped, shot.”) […]